OSCE meeting opens with call to strengthen rule of law to protect human rights
Governments should take steps to further strengthen the rule of law to better protect human rights, participants said at the opening of the Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting in Vienna.
The two-day meeting, jointly organized by the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), brought together government and civil society representatives from OSCE participating States to discuss the role of legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks in the promotion and protection of human rights.
“Understanding of the interconnectedness and mutual influence of the rule of law and the respect, protection and guarantee of human rights has been reflected in all the fundamental documents of the OSCE,” said Ukrainian Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk, the Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, at the opening. “All that a State does to strengthen the independence and professionalism of the courts contributes directly to strengthening observance of human rights.”
Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of ODIHR, pointed out that under-resourced judicial systems and national human rights institutions cannot act as effective human rights protection mechanisms.
“We end up paying dearly for saving on human rights, the ultimate price being that of confidence in the government, which in turn undermines stability and security,” Lenarčič said. “It is in such circumstances that the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security becomes more relevant than ever.”
Keynote speaker Tsog Log, Vice Speaker of the Mongolian parliament, said that Mongolia, the OSCE’s newest participating State, “has recognized the key principles of the rule of law and human rights and built them into the fabric of our legal system and society”.
“We have realized that to protect human rights there should be fair courts and independent judges,” Tsog said. “To ensure this, court reform and capacity building in the legal profession need increased resources”.
The meeting will take stock of current challenges faced by the OSCE participating States in ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights, and identify effective national and international instruments to protect human rights and prevent human rights violations. Participants will explore and make recommendations on strengthening the rule of law in the promotion and protection of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- 318 reads
